Recent content by mrandig

Finally. That was harder than it should have been. I got the last bolt out with a "stubby" 15mm, but I have no idea how I'm going to get it back in and torqued to spec. Here's everything out. The crack in the water crossover is really easy to see now. Left side cleaned. I think I may have...

Taking a break was just what I needed. The fan temperature switch and glow plug controller are now both out. 3 out of 4 bolts removed. Just one more bolt and we can pull this crossover out. Just...One...More... I can't even see the stupid thing, let alone get a wrench on it.

Parts are here. Back to work. I did not realize that the replacement water crossover was a used part, but that's my fault for not reading; the product description said it was a takeoff. Of course, this won't be as simple as shown in the -20, but nothing has ever been. First, I'll remove the...

In a previous post, I had a suspicion that the water crossover was cracked at the heater hose fitting. It didn't take long to prove I was correct. I didn't even have to start the truck, and water was already pouring out. Also, remember to close the draincock on the lower radiator hose. IYKYK...

Let's see if we can try out these new hoses. I'm just going to fill the system with distilled water for the moment. We'll bring the engine up to temp and see what happens. If it does leak, I'd just as soon it leaks water, rather than coolant. With any luck, assuming the water doesn't come...

When these come flying off, which will be at the worst possible moment, I'm definitely going back to rubber.

Look what came in the mail yesterday. These are among the most expensive hose clamps I've ever owned. They look nice enough. They're smooth-side clamps, so they shouldn't tear up these new silicone hoses. The clamps only took a fraction of a second to install, but the torque needed to...

Thank you. This was exactly the input I was looking for. I was thinking the same thing. Right now, I have about a "knuckle" of space, so maybe 1" of clearance. I'll loosen everything up again and see what I can do to free up some slack, but it's pretty tight already. I doubt if I can get much more.

Agreed. It would have been easier, quicker, and definitely cheaper to not get involved with this stuff. I will never touch it again. I do not recommend.

Looking for some feedback. I've only got a few small items left, so I might as well knock these out while I wait for my fancy hose clamps. I wasn't able to route the oil cooler hoses properly until now, as the cooling stack just got installed a few days ago. Of course, this would be the one...

Well, the damaged radiator couldn't stop me, but the hose clamps did. The standard "worm" clamps, which I have a ton of, kept tearing this blue heater hose to shreds. Being after 5:30pm on a Sunday, my options were few-and-far between. If I kept experimenting, I was worried I wouldn't have...

I just couldn't let another day pass because of the radiator. Not after it's been this long. Time to improvise. This tool is used to expand exhaust pipe and keep it round at the same time. The process was ugly, so ugly I'm not showing it here. As long as nobody sees what's hiding under the...

Just when I thought I had run out of excuses to get this project finished. That new radiator is bent to s**t at the upper hose connection. This didn't happen here, and the box has no damage, which means it was packed and shipped like that. Kids, this is the reason you check your orders upon...

Now back to the present day... Well, that's it. Looks like I'm all out of excuses. There is nothing left to do but put the radiator back in and connect some hoses. And add some fluids - can't forget that.

August 2025 Updates (2) Here's the refurbished upper radiator brackets installed. While I was in the area, I decided to clean up the inner shields as well. Maybe this will make me go faster, or even maybe I'll have some extra power lol. I doubt it, but I do like clean parts. Newly...